The other day, four girlfriends and I took to the trail up to the top of my mountain. I have reached the summit on two other occasions. The last time was 5 years ago.
The trail is more than a leisurely hike. It is rated “moderate” however it takes time and patience to scale up to the top which comes in at a little over 2,900 feet.
Lots of loose rock and chapparel which can wreak havoc to ankles and skin but the challenges are outweighed by the view and the feeling of accomplishment once you reach the peak.
I have to be honest- this hike was way tougher for me this time than it was 5 years ago. I thought I was in shape but the mountain thought otherwise! Brief stops to rest and only ONE time did I verbally admit that I didn’t think I could go further (my friend Jeanne basically told me to get my “big girl panties on” and move onward and upward).
Once at the top, we were met with our 360 degree view of ocean, islands,valleys and cities- spectacular! We spread out on the big rock, ate lunch and toasted to success. We had the top to ourselves, sharing it only with a few hawks in the distance. We played music, took lots of silly selfies and danced. To me, there is no better way to spend a day. To feel the sun on your shoulders and the air fill your lungs. To commune with friends who enjoy this sort of thing as much as you and to celebrate a tiny victory together. To listen to silence and to listen to music and to appreciate the calmness and peace my mountain afforded us.
At the end of our descent, we all were pretty beat up. Shaky legs, sore knees and THIRSTY (our water supply ran out about 2/3rd’s of the way down-sometimes we lack in adequate preparedness-ugh~!) but it didn’t take away from the experience and the satisfaction of completing the journey.
At the end, Jeanne said she was ready to change her Facebook status to reflect “in a relationship with Mt. Boney” and I can’t agree more!
Abundance 